In spite of travel challenges, I have been fortunate enough to visit MEA in Baja and enjoy some emotional stimulation through real life experiences, with many other alumni who have braved the travel challenges to Mexico.

Beyond Baja, I have not enjoyed live events which I so much cherish in my home city of London. Like many of you, it feels like we have been deprived of real life.

However, when I was last in Baja before Christmas, I made a bid online to support a London based, cancer charity auction. My bid was prompted by the energetic “can do” attitude of my MEA group that day.

To my surprise, I won the bid to host a group of young musicians for a private concert “at home” in January, 2022.

As my home has limited space (and no piano anymore), how was I going to round up a cohort and get them to sit in a confined space, for this concert?

My fears seemed to get the better of me – with the possibility of my failing the charity, the young musicians and my friends!

To the rescue came The Quorum Network, a professional group (who actually hosted Chip as a speaker) and who provided an alternative larger home space.

The outcome this week was my attendance at that live performance where 30 of our Q members enjoyed a truly memorable and mesmerizing performance given by the National Opera Studio. NOS nurtures the future stars of the opera world.

For two hours, time stood still, problems disappeared, bonds were formed, and the magic of “In Real Life” was omnipresent. The audience applause lasted for what seemed an eternity, with people stamping their feet on the floor and shouting Encore!

The singers and the young pianist were equally overjoyed and happy. We all had the best of times.

At MEA, we are encouraged to push our boundaries and reach out to complete strangers, to collaborate.

As I discovered, reaching out makes us truly be “in real life”!

Cornelia von Rittberg is an International Art Broker, an SME business accelerator, and 5-time MEA alum who is coming back in April.